Need a story reference

[beatrice_otter]

I'm not looking for a fic, I'm looking for a story.  It could be any kind of story (fairy tale, myth, classic novel, history, folk tale) about a tyrranical authority figure.  It must be relatively well known and not confined to modern pop culture.  The authority figure (preferably a parent) should be abusive and ensure that everyone follows every whim to the letter.  Brainwashing and murder as consequences of deviation from the authority figure's wishes are a plus.

I know there must be a billion stories like this out there, but I'm drawing a blank.  I want a story that a character can use as a metaphor to explain to an enemy why she's going rogue.

In other news, my laptop's keyboard sucks.  The caps lock, p, and ' keys are unreliable.  I have an external keyboard at work, but not at home.  Since I am currently at home, this is frustrating.

Comments

[jjhunter]

Popping in from my network page...

Sounds like the behavior of certain stereotypical step-parents to me, or that of authority figures supervising very specific quest tasks (e.g. Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Beautiful, Cupid and Psyche, etc.).

Chronus/Saturn from Greek/Roman mythology is a good example of a very controlling authority figure - in attempting to circumvent prophecy he eats his own offspring. (The ultimate in control: you can't kill me if you're in my belly!)

And if you're willing to go the controversial route, God in the Old Testament fits a number of the characteristics you're looking for -- it's just a question of where you draw the line re: abuse and legitimacy.

[beatrice_otter]

Cronus is just perfect, thanks!

[laurajv]

Hm.

I'd agree with jjhunter that stepparents in a lot of fairy tales would fit -- Cinderella's stepmother, the stepmother in Hansel & Gretel.

I know I've heard (and used) the phrase "treat [him/her] like a redheaded stepchild" to indicate that someone is being treated poorly/abusively by someone in power.

[beatrice_otter]

I'd rather use a man than a woman, for this, and it is usually stepmothers. Cronus fits the bill.

[thothmes]

You already have Cronus, but the person who came to mind for me was Bluebeard with all those murdered wives who disobeyed the order and used the little key.